Introduction to Government in the U.S.

The United States is a country built on democracy – a government ‘of the people, for the people, by the people’, to quote one of its most famous Presidents, Abraham Lincoln. As a newcomer to this country, it is vital that you understand how our government carries out these principles of democracy. In this webinar, you will learn how America came to be a democratic nation, the three levels of American government (federal, state, and local), how elections are carried out, and your responsibilities as a U.S. resident or citizen in the American political system. 

This class includes a variety of interactive exercises to allow students to test their knowledge!

Though this class is intended for newly-arrived immigrants and refugees to the U.S., it is open to all.

Objectives

By the end of this class, you will be able to:

• Describe the seven principles of a democracy
• Explain the events that led to America becoming a representative democracy
• Name and summarize the duties of each level of government in the U.S.
• Outline the three branches of the federal government: legislative, executive, and judicial
• Compare and contrast the responsibilities of the House of Representatives and the Senate
• Identify the processes by which leaders are elected in the United States
• Develop a plan to participate in the U.S. political system